Punjab man looking for missing brother visits Russia, says 10 Indians ‘confirmed dead’ and 4 missing after joining army there

According to Seechewal, those confirmed dead include Tejpal Singh from Amritsar, Arvind Kumar from Lucknow, Dhirendra Kumar from Uttar Pradesh, Vinod Yadav, Yogendra Yadav, and five others. The four Indians who are missing have been identified as Deepak, Yogeshwar Prasad, Azharuddin Khan, and Ram Chandra.

Jagdeep stated that he first met Seechewal on June 29, 2024, when he submitted a petition seeking the safe return of his brother Mandeep and other Indians trapped in the Russian army. Seechewal later met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and wrote a letter to him requesting immediate steps for the repatriation of Indians recruited into the Russian military.

Jagdeep’s Russia trips in search of his brother

When Jagdeep was unable to find any information about his brother, he decided to travel to Russia. Sant Seechewal assisted him by arranging travel tickets and providing an official letter to help him avoid difficulties during his stay. Jagdeep said he visited Russia twice—once for 21 days and later for two months—searched there for the Indians, and collected vital information despite facing significant language and logistical challenges.

On this occasion, Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal appealed to the Government of India to use diplomatic influence to end the recruitment of Indians into the Russian army. He reiterated his demand that the mortal remains of the deceased Indians be brought back to their families so that last rites can be performed according to religious traditions. He also called for strict action against travel agents who allegedly misled the men with false promises and pushed them into dangerous situations.

Seechewal affirmed that he stands firmly with the affected families during this period of immense grief and would continue to raise the issue until justice and relief are ensured. He said that after receiving these documents, it is now clear that Indians are being killed in the Russia-Ukraine war.

He urged the Central Government to get more details about the missing men, as the submitted documents were procured from Russian officials.

Jagdeep said that the primary reason behind the recruitment of Indians into the Russian army is large-scale deception by agents who lure them with attractive job offers. Many Indians travel to Russia in search of employment on tourist visas, believing they are going for legitimate work opportunities. However, upon arrival in Russia, they are detained at airports on the pretext of minor documentation issues and subsequently taken to jail, he said. There, they are subjected to mental pressure, intimidation, and torture, and are forcibly coerced into joining the Russian army, as Russia requires manpower for its ongoing war with Ukraine. After enduring severe hardships and abuse in detention, many are left with no option but to agree to enlist.

Jagdeep also ‘pressured to join Russian army’

Jagdeep said that he had also been detained at the airport and taken to jail due to a minor document issue, where he was also pressured to join the Russian army. However, he explained to the authorities that he had come to Russia solely to search for his missing brother. He alleged that the Indian embassy in Russia had not been adequately cooperative when Indians sought assistance in such cases.

According to him, while official government data claims that around 200 Indians have been recruited into the Russian army, his experience suggests that 700-800 Indians are currently in Russian jails, with a similar number having already been forced into military service. Several of these individuals are missing, and at least two dozen are reported to have been killed so far. He claimed to possess a list of 14 Indians, out of whom he said 10 were confirmed dead and four were missing.

Jagdeep also alleged that the Russian army had engaged agents who actively coerced Indians into joining the military, with the involvement of local travel agents in India as well. These recruits were reportedly given minimal training—often lasting less than a week—before being sent to the frontlines. He emphasised that Indians were being pushed towards almost certain death, and appealed to the Government of India to urgently investigate and intervene in the matter.